Course Objective

Fashion is a reflection of its time! In this course, we will decipher major events in the history of fashion and their relationship to the historical context. What social, political, and cultural events occurred in the world, and how did fashion reflect these contexts?

Program content

1. Introduction: Fashion is a reflection of its time.
In this introduction to the history of 20th-century fashion, Professor Giovanna invites students to reflect on how fashion changes and relates to the world. Through a study of each decade, students will learn to decipher silhouettes and understand how contexts are translated through fashion.

2. 1900: Welcome to the Belle Époque
Discover the fashion of the early 20th century and understand the ultra-feminine silhouette and beauty standards of the Gibson Girls. We also observe the extravagant accessories, menswear tailoring, and the presence of Art Nouveau in jewelry and adornments.

3. 1910: Breaking with social structures and in fashion
In this episode, we explore the fashion of the 1910s, addressing the impact of the First World War and the role of women in the workforce. We highlight the disruptive designs of Paul Poiret.

4. 1920: Fashion and the Roaring Twenties
Changes in society continued into the 1920s. The atmosphere during this period reflected optimism and a desire to enjoy life. We will see how behavior and fashion reflected this spirit of the times and understand the aesthetics of Art Deco in fashion, architecture, and products.

5. 1930: The return to norms and escapism
In this lesson, learn about the 1930s, marked by the Great Depression, artistic movements such as Surrealism, and the impact of cinema on society. In fashion, the featured designer of the episode is Elsa Schiaparelli.

6. 1940: Fashion and clothing in times of war
This lesson addresses the context of the 1940s, marked by World War II and the rationing of resources, including fabrics. Women began working in civilian jobs, and fashion reflected this new reality. We will discuss the iconic "New Look," created by Christian Dior.

7. 1950: Elegance in the mid-century
We will explore the fashion of the 1950s, highlighting the influence of youth on society and the sophisticated elegance of the period, including the work of designer Cristóbal Balenciaga.

8. 1960: The fight for freedom in society and in fashion
Learn in this lesson how fashion reflected the cultural movements of the 1960s. Social revolutions, the space race, and the miniskirt are some of the highlights. Discover how clothing styles changed throughout the decade.

9. 1970: Many styles in a single decade
Fashion in the 1970s was marked by different styles that emerged simultaneously. Among the highlights were the use of tailoring by women, the gypsy style, disco music, and punk.

10. 1980: The Age of Exaggeration
The 1980s were marked by excess and materialism, reflected in clothing. Ballroom and Hip Hop brought new expressions, while designers like Kawakubo, Yamamoto, and Miyake questioned the role of fashion.

11.1990: End of a century full of pluralities
In this episode, we'll explore fashion in the 1990s, highlighting grunge style, minimalism, and informality, and how they influenced the fashion, culture, and beauty of the time.

12. Conclusion: Fashion changes, and we know why.
In this final lesson, we will recap key points we've covered throughout the course. We will also review how we analyzed the fashion of the period and how we can continue to examine other moments in fashion history.

Methodology

The course will be taught entirely online, providing flexibility for participants to access classes from anywhere and at any convenient time. The classes consist of short videos, allowing students to learn at their own pace, pausing when necessary, and reviewing the content as many times as they wish.

Instructor

Giovanna Gaba She holds a postgraduate degree in Art History and a bachelor's degree in Fashion Design. She teaches courses in Fashion Design, Fashion Business, Graphic Design, Digital Design, and Animation Design at Anhembi Morumbi University, and also teaches postgraduate courses at Grupo Ânima and Senac, in Strategic Management in Fashion Business and Creative Direction and Fashion Styling. An investor in vegan startups, she has over 10 years of experience in Communication, focusing on Visual Communication in the publishing sector in Brazil and the United States (Las Vegas, NV and Hollywood, CA), in addition to working in Brand Communication in fashion marketing departments.

Target Audience

This course is ideal for fashion enthusiasts, design students, creative professionals, and those curious about history who wish to understand how 20th-century fashion reflected and influenced social, cultural, and political transformations. Perfect for those seeking condensed, high-quality knowledge, without needing prior training in the field.

General Recommendations

• To get the most out of this course, we suggest that you:
• Watch the videos in the suggested chronological order for a better understanding of the evolution of fashion.
• Reserve a quiet and uninterrupted environment during classes.
• Make notes on the points that most pique your interest.
• Review the content as many times as you like to solidify concepts and references.
• Supplement your learning by searching for reference images from the periods studied.

About Instructors